68 VOYAGE TO MOBILE. [CHAP. XXIV. 



Gibbes, of Charleston, S. C., and it was found to have the 

 double occipital condyles, only met with in mammals, and the 

 convoluted tympanic bones which are characteristic of cetaceans, 

 so that the real nature of this remarkable extinct species of the 

 whale tribe has now been placed beyond all doubt. 



Feb. 5. On my return from this excursion, I rejoined my 

 wife at Mr. Blount s, and we then went back to the inn at Clai- 

 borne to wait for a steamer bound for Mobile. The first large 

 vessel which touched for a moment at the landing, came up the 

 river from that city, and stopped to know if there were any pas- 

 seno-ers. The answer was, &quot;No, what news ?&quot; To which they 

 replied, &quot; Cotton up one eighth no war.&quot; They were off in an 

 instant, and, a few hours later, when it was dark, another large 

 vessel was hailed coming down stream. We were glad to find 

 that it was the Amaranth, commanded by our old friend Captain 

 Bragdon, who had sailed up and down more than 800 miles, in 

 the interval since we saw him. Once more we descended the 

 steep cliff, on the slope of which we had spent many pleasant 

 hours, gathering hundreds of beautifully preserved shells, and 

 saw it illuminated by a blaze of torch-light. 



Between Claiborne and Mobile, there are about 100 miles of 

 river navigation, our course being nearly due south. About half 

 way, -we passed, in the night, the junction of the Tombeckbee 

 and Alabama rivers, and, in the morning, saw in all directions a 

 low flat country, which continued till we reached the metropolis 

 of Alabama. 



